Pulmonology Services

Bronchoscopy

Clopton Clinic Pulmonary contracts with St. Bernards Medical Center to provide bronchoscopy services. Bronchoscopy is a medical procedure where a tube is inserted into the airways, usually through the nose or mouth. This allows the practitioner to examine inside a patient's airway for abnormalities such as foreign bodies, bleeding, tumors, or inflammation. The practitioner often takes samples from inside the lungs: biopsies, fluid (bronchoalveolar lavage), or endobronchial brushing. The practitioner may use either a rigid bronchoscope or flexible bronchoscope.

Pulmonary Function Testing

Pulmonary function testing is used to measure lung capacity. This test may be used to evaluate conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pulmonary function testing is painless, and requires approximately 5 minutes to perform. Spirometry (meaning the measuring of breath) is the most common of the Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs), measuring lung function, specifically the measurement of the amount and/or speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. Spirometry is an important tool used for generating pneumotachograph to assessing conditions such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and COPD.

Sleep Studies

Pulmonology also offers sleep studies at St Bernards Medical Center. Our pulmonary staff is trained to provide you with state of the art care at the St Bernards Sleep Disorders Center. Our physicians are Board Certified in Sleep Medicine. Sleep studies are tests that watch what happens to your body during sleep. The studies are done to find out what is causing your sleep problems.

Thoracentesis

Thoracentesis is an invasive procedure to remove fluid or air from the pleural space for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. A hollow needle is carefully introduced into the thorax, after administration of a local anesthesia. If a large amount of fluid is present, then this procedure can also be used therapeutically to remove that fluid and improve patient comfort and lung function.

Radiology

Diagnostic Imaging
St. Bernards Clopton Clinic’s radiology department provides high quality digital diagnostic x-rays, which are available for immediate review by our physicians. The radiology department is staffed by registered technologist.

In-House Laboratory

St. Bernards Clopton Clinic operates a state of the art, full service laboratory. The CLIA certified laboratory performs testing in the areas of hematology, coagulation, chemistry, special chemistry, therapeutic drug monitoring, and serology. The laboratory is open 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, and is located on the 1st floor of the 300 Carson building.

Pulmonology Resources

Bronchial Thermoplasty

St. Bernards is currently the only hospital in Arkansas actively treating chronic severe asthma using. Bronchial Thermoplasty. Dr. Mark Siffordand Dr. Joshua Morrison, with St. Bernards Clopton Clinic are the only physicians in Arkansas treating Bronchial Thermoplasty at this time.

Bronchial Thermoplasty is an FDA-approved bronchoscopic procedure for the treatment of severe persistent asthma in individuals who are 18 years and older, whose asthma is not well controlled.

Benefits to Patients

Non-drug Procedure

Clinically Proven

Safe and Effective

Long Lasting

The Bronchial Thermoplasty Procedure

A full course of Bronchial Thermoplasty treatment includes three separate bronchoscopic procedures: one for the each lower lobe of the lung and another for both upper lobes. Each outpatient procedure is performed approximately three weeks apart.

While the patients are under sedation, a catheter inside a bronchoscope – a thin, flexible tube-like instrument – introduced through the patient’s nose or mouth, and into his or her lungs delivering thermal energy into the airways. The patient is monitored after the procedure and usually returns home that day.

What is Bronchial Thermoplasty?

How does BT work?

People with severe asthma have an excess of smooth muscle tissue lining their airways. During an asthma attack, this muscle constricts the airways, making breathing difficult. BT reduces the amount of excess muscle and helps minimize the narrowing of your airways during an asthma attack.

What are the benefits and risks of BT?

In a clinical trial, almost 79% of patients treated with BT reported significant improvements in their asthma-related quality of life—including a reduction in asthma attacks, ER visits and hospitalizations for respiratory symptoms, and fewer days lost from work, school, and other daily activities due to asthma. As with any procedure, there are risks, and individual results may vary. The most common side effect of BT is temporary worsening of respiratory-related symptoms (within 1 to 7 days). There is a small risk (3.4%) of these symptoms requiring hospitalization.

Am I a candidate for BT?

BT delivered by the Alair™ System is approved by the FDA for the treatment of severe asthma in patients 18 years and older whose asthma is not well controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists such as Advair™, Symbicort™, and Dulera™. Further evaluation with Dr. Mark Sifford, who is trained in BT, will help determine whether you are a candidate who may benefit from this procedure.

What will happen during the procedure?

To ensure safety and optimal results every step of the way, BT is typically performed under moderate sedation in three separate sessions scheduled three weeks apart. Each session lasts about an hour and focuses on a different part of the lung to ensure all of the affected areas are treated. The device is introduced into your airways through a bronchoscope that is inserted into your mouth or nose, so no incision is required. After the procedure, you will be monitored for 2 to 4 hours and discharged on the same day. The treating physician will provide you with more details on what to expect during and after the procedure.

Who performs BT?

Currently Dr. Mark Sifford is the only St. Bernards physician practicing BT. St. Bernards is also the only hospital actively treating BT at the moment.

Will I be able to stop taking my asthma medications?

BT does not replace your current daily maintenance medication, but instead works with it to provide long-term stability in your asthma symptoms and lessen severe asthma attacks requiring oral steroids (prednisone). Is BT covered by insurance? Coverage policies and payment vary by payer. Your BT physician/staff will work with you to request coverage of your BT procedure.

For more information please call the St. Bernards Healthline at (870) 207-7300.